Publican readers' views on smoking presented to DOH

The views of Publican readers from across England and Wales were delivered to the Department of Health (DoH) this week at the close of the government's smoking consultation.

The trade must now wait for the publication of a health improvement bill, hopefully before the end of the year, to see whether the government is standing by its plans to ban smoking in pubs serving food by 2009.

Other submissions have been delivered from all corners of the pub trade, including the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA), the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers and the BII.

In its submission, the BBPA revealed the progress of the five-year voluntary plan on smoking announced by pub companies 12 months ago. By July of this year, 42 per cent of pubs surveyed had banned smoking at the bar, and 55 per cent had banished it from back-of-house areas. Two thirds of pubs had introduced some form of smoke-free area.

Last year signatories to the plan, who included Enterprise Inns and Punch Taverns, pledged that smoking would be banned at the bar and back of house in all their outlets by the end of 2005.

The deadline for the government consultation has now closed. But there is a last-minute opportunity to add your voice to the Whitehall debate about a possible smoking ban.

MPs on the Health Select Committee have now launched a new inquiry into the government's smoking proposals. All the submissions sent in to the DoH will be considered by the committee, but it is also welcoming new comments on a possible smoking ban - but only until next Wednesday, September 14.

Comments can only be made via the internet, and details of how to enter the process can be found at www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/​health_committee/050719_2.cfm​.

All responses must be sent via email to urnygupbzzrz@cneyvnzrag.hx​.

Committee evidence sessions are likely to commence in October 2005, and anyone submitting comments could be invited to join one of the sessions.